Sheet metal file



s. D. WIEPERT ,68 ,966

SHEET METAL FILE July 6, 1954 Filed July 9, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l fave/72:01- ieozgge D h/Zeper;

July 6, 1954 G. D. WIEPERT SHEET METAL FILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 9, 1951 Patented July 6, 1954 SHEET METAL FILE George D. Wiepert, Branford, Conn., assignor to The Merriam Company, Durham, C0nn., a corporation of Connecticut Application July 9, 1951, Serial No. 235,745

'7 Claims.

1 This invention pertains to sheet metal files and more particularly to files having removable and adjustable partitions or followers for supporting cards, documents, folders and the like, or

for dividing the file into separate compartments for the storage of small parts, for example.

The desirability of providing a file with partitions or followers is of course well known, and a great many schemes have heretofore been devised for accomplishing this purpose. The present invention constitutes an improvement over such devices and has as its principal object to provide a file incorporating separable, adjustably positionable partitions or followers, which file is of amply strong yet remarkably simple construction. As a result of this simplicity, considerable economy in manufacture is made possible and a substantial saving in material is effected, without in any way sacrificing good serviceability in the completed article.

As used herein, the word partition is intended to include not only a barrier for dividing an enclosure into compartments, but also a backrest or follower against which cards, folders, etc. are rested to keep them upright and in prearranged order.

The invention is adapted for incorporation into the ordinary tray or drawer type of file, as well as in the common box type of card-file, for example, either with or without a cover for enclosing the contents. tion may be embodied in an open top-and-side 9 folder or record file of the type adapted for use on a desk or table and consisting simply of a series of partitions or barriers extending upwardly from a flat base to provide spaces into which the folders, etc. may be placed edgewise and held in upright position for convenient access. In general, the invention comprises a sheet metal file having a base or bottom member which latter is apertured to provide a series of spaced, aligned, locking slots for the reception of tongues or flanges on the sheet metal partitions. By means of interlocking engagement between the adjacent partition flanges and the apertured base member, the partitions are adapted and arranged to stand upright on the bottom member at selected locations to provide a backrest at any desired point or, simply, to divide the file into separate compartments or areas. The partitions employed herein for this purpose are of extreme simplicity in design, yet they afford all the strength and rigidity reguired for their intended purpose when assembled in position on the base. And at the same time, ready removal and repositioning of the partitions to suit particular requirements is easily accomplished.

A more detailed understanding will be obtained from the following description of certain typical constructions embodying the invention which are illustrated in the following drawings.

Alternatively the inven- In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a box-type card file having a hinged cover and provided with adjustable partitions, the cover being shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view in section along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view in end elevation of the box taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the partitions shown in Figs. 1 to 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modifid form of file;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectionalview in end elevation on line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of a modified form of partition having reinforcing ribs; and.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on line B8 of Fig. '7.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 4, the box-type of file illustrated is particularly adapted for use as a menu card file or as a housewifes recipe file, for example. The file is formed of relatively light gauge sheet metal and comprises a main body or box it and a hinged cover ll. Body II) in this instance is formed from a sheet metal blank which is bent to provide a bottom l2 and upstanding front and rear walls l3, [4, respectively. fhe ends of the box are closed off by separate end panels [5 which are spot welded or otherwise secured to walls [3 and I4, and bottom E2. The box bottom is outwardly dimpled or depressed adjacent its four corners to provide feet 16 upon which the box rests and by which the bottom I2 is spaced slightly away from the supporting surface upon which the box is placed.

Cover l l is likewise formed from a sheet metal blank, and has a central top panel I! and integrally connected, depending, peripheral walls comprising end walls I8 and front and back walls i9, 26, respectively. A hinge tab 2| on each of the end walls 58 is provided adjacent the rear edge of cover H, and. a rivet 22 passes through each tab and end wall [5 of the box In to permit the cover to hinge rearwardly from its closed position to an open, upright position at the back of the box, as shown, for example, in Figs. 1 and 3. The interior of the file box body is divided into two compartments by a central, fixed partition 23 having integrally formed right-angle flanges 2311 at its opposite ends and another, 23b, along its lower edge which are also spot welded to the front and rear walls and base of the box body It, respectively. The box is provided with one or more removable partitions 24 having flanges formed along their lower edges which extend in the same direction from the plane of the partition. These are adapted to interlock with the base l2 of body l0 and thus hold the partition rigidly upright within the box independently of any other means. The interlocking arrangement by which this is accomplished comprises a series of spaced narrow slots 25 cut in base [2 of the box intermediate the margins or extremities of each of the two compartments into which the box Ill is divided by the fixed central partition 23. In the example shown here, there are two rows of three slots each. Cooperating with these slots is a central flange 26 on partition 24, which is adapted to be inserted into one of the slots 25 corresponding to the desired position in the box for the partition. The latter is also provided with a pair of outer flanges 21, these being disposed on either side of central flange 26 and, as mentioned above, extending in the same direction as the latter from the plane of the partition. As seen more particularly in Figs. 3 and 4, central flange 2B is offset vertically in a downward direction from the plane of the outer flanges 2? when the partition is viewed in transverse section. The amount of this offset is made approximately equal to the thickness of the metal in the base 12. Central flange 26 is flared downwardly at its outer, free end so that it curls away from the under surface of the outer flanges 27. lhis serves to facilitate the entry of the flange into a slot 25 when the partition is assembled into the box. In addition, the front and rear margins or lips of each slot 25 are also flared slightly, each in opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 3, out of the plane of the base I2 to further facilitate the entry, and also removal, of the central or lower flange 26. However, since the narrow width of slot 25 is substantially less than the extent of flange 26, abutment of the heel 26a. against the rear edge of slot 25 will occur long before the outer, free end of the flange clears the forward lip of the slot and thus will prevent any unintentional disengagement of the partition from the file bottom since, as explained more fully hereinafter, the heel must be manually lifted slightly to effect disengagement of the partition.

Positioning of a partition in the box is accomplished by holding the partition in one hand substantially perpendicular to the base l2 and with the central flange 26 in contact with the base, slightly to the rear of the slot into which it is to be inserted. The partition is then moved or slid bodily forward toward the front of the box while being held in its upright position, in order to force the central flange into the slot. As the heel 26a of flange 26 passes over the rear edge of the slot 25, the partition snaps into position and is resiliently locked there by the engagement of the heel with the rear edge of the slot. By reason of the fact that the vertical offset of the central and outer flanges is substantially equal to the thickness of the bottom 12, and also by reason of the slight wedging angle which the two sets of flanges make with respect to each other, the outer flanges press downwardly upon the upper surface of base [2, while the central flange 26 presses upwardly on the under surface of the base, just forward of the slot. In order to remove the partition, it is again grapsed in one hand and moved bodily backward and simultaneously given a slight twist upward and backward at its lower edge to force the heel 2651. up over the rear lip of slot 25. This forcing action is possible without damaging the flle in any way owing to the resilience of the metal at the rear lip of the slot which allows the lip to be momentarily depressed slightly as the heel 26a passes over it.

A somewhat different embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 which show a file of the type adapted to be placed on top of a desk or table for holding loose correspondence, letter files, books, records or the like. This file is of an open top-and-side construction permitting easy access to its contents from all directions. The file consists of a base 36 of sheet metal which is formed with wide but relatively shallow, spaced longitudinal channels 3| pressed upwardly out of the principal plane of the base. Channels 3| are each provided with a series of spaced, transversely extending, narrow slots 32 similar to slots 25 in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Partitions 33, like partitions 24 in the foregoing example, are provided with an inner flange 34 and outer flanges 35. In this case, however, there is no vertical offset between the central flange 34 and the outer flanges 35 of par tition 33 inasmuch as the channeling of base 3!] accomplishes the same purpose. It will be seen from Fig. 6, therefore, that in the assembled position, outer flanges 35 of partition 33 lie flush with the under surface of base 30 in their respective channels 3|, while the central flange 3 lies flush with the upper surface of the central portion of the base. By reason of the recesses in the base provided by the channels 3|, outer flanges 35 do not project below the main lower surface of base 30, so that when the file is placed on a flat surface there is no protrusion causing the flle to wobble or tilt. Partitions 33 are assembled to base 30 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the construction shown in 1 to 3 except that here the two outer flanges are inserted into slots while the central flange remains on top of the base. Again, however, the construction is such that central flange 3d exerts a pressure on base 36 in a direction opposite that to outer flanges 35, and the partition is held in firmly upright position. Opposite flaring of the opposed edges or lips of each slot 32 is provided here also, as well as downward flaring of the outer flanges 35, to facilitate assembly of the partition to the base and for providing resilient lcclzing cf the partition thereto, all as explained above.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide a file having rather large partitions which. if made perfectly flat or plane, would require metal of excessive thickness to afford the necessary strength against bending and distortion to which such a partition might be subjected. To overcome the expense of such relatively heavy metal, a light gauge sheet metal can be used by providing it with a series of vertically extending, reinforcing ribs or corrugations which serve to greatly increase the strength of the partition in respect to transverse bending moments. A suitable construction of this type is shown in Figs. 7 and 8 in which a partition 36 is provided with ribs 3! and 38. In order that these ribs not interfere with the locking action of the outer flanges 39 and inner flange 40 of partition 36 when assembled to a base, ribs 31 are so pressed that they protrude inwardly toward the inside of the bend of the flanges, while the central rib 38 is pressed outwardly toward the outside of the bend of the flanges. In this way the under surface of outer flanges 39, which are the surfaces engaging the upper surface of the base member, and the upper surface of the central flange 40, which is the surface engaging the under surface of the mounting base, are planar so that there is no interference with their engagement with the respective surfaces of the mounting base. When partitions of this type are used, it will ordinarily be necessary either toprovide slots of somewhat greater Width in the base member than those of the previously described constructions, or alternatively to provide a relief in the form of notches in narrow slots at the point where the ribs occur on the partition.

Various modifications other than those here specifically illustrated and described will be apparent from the foregoing discussion. For example, the base member may have but a single longitudinally extending channel, of the type shown in Figs. 5 and 6, but located centrally on the base. A partition of the type shown in Fig. 6, that is, without vertical ofiset of the flanges, would be used for this modified form of base also, and in fact if the dimensions are correct, such a partition can be used interchangeably with either of the channelled types of mounting bases.v Also, partitions having a greater number of flanges can be employed. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the exact constructions here shown, but is intended to include all equivalent constructions which reasonably fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination in a sheet metal file, a generally flat sheet metal base member, a removable sheet metal partition adapted to be secured in substantially upright position at selected positions along said base member, the latter having a series of longitudinally spaced, narrow slots intermediate its margins, said partition having at least three flanges disposed along its lower edge which extend in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said partition for a distance substantially greater than the narrow width of said slots, said partition being removably secured to and constrained in upright position on said base member solely by engagement of said flanges with said base member, at least one but less than all of said flanges being received in a respectively cooperating narrow slot to underlie a portion of said base member, said slotengaging flange and a. portion of said base member being ofiset vertically with respect to each other a distance approximating the thickness of said base member sheet material, said partition being attached to said base member by inserting the free end of said slot-engaging flange into said cooperating slot and temporarily springing said flange out of its normal plane suiflciently to allow sliding movement of said flange longitudinally of said base member until the heel of said flange passes over the back edge of and into said slot to removably lock said partition to said base mem-- ber, said partition flanges being thus disposed on and pressing in opposite directions against the opposite surfaces of said base member.

2. A sheet metal file as defined in claim 1, wherein the margins on opposite sides of said slots in said base member are bent slightly in opposite directions out of the plane of said base member to facilitate reception of said slot-engaging flange in said slot during assembly of said partition with said base member.

3. A sheet metal file as defined in claim 1, wherein the said slot-engaging flange is curved downward slightly at its free edge to facilitate its entry into a slot in said base member during assembly of said partition therewith.

4. A sheet metal file as defined in claim 1, wherein said slot-engaging flange is disposed intermediate a pair of flanges.

5. A sheet metal file as defined in claim 1, wherein said flanges are formed by bending the bottom marginal portions of said partition and said partition is provided with reinforcing ribs or corrugations which extend transversely to and around the bend line of the flanges, said ribs projecting upon those surfaces of the respective flanges which do not contact the base member.

6. In a sheet metal box construction having a flat bottom section and upwardly extending side wall sections, a removable sheet metal partition adapted to be secured in upright position at selected positions along said bottom section, the latter having a series of longitudinally spaced, narrow slots intermediate said wall sections, said partition having at least three flanges at its lower edge which extend in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said partition for a distance substantially greater than the narrow width of said slots, said partition being removably secured to and constrained in upright position on said base member solely by engagement of said flanges with said bottom section, at least one but less than all of said flanges lying in a plane vertically ofiset from that of the remaining flanges by a distance approximating the thickness of the bottom section sheet material, said partition being attached to said bottom section by inserting the free end of a slot-engaging flange into a cooperating slot in said bottom section and temporarily springing said flange out of its normal plane sufliciently to allow sliding movement of said flange longitudinally of said bottom section until the heel of said flange passes over the back edge of and into said slot to removably lock said partition to said bottom section, said partition flanges being thus disposed on and pressing in opposite directions against the opposite surfaces of said bottom section.

7. In combination in a sheet metal file, a substantially flat sheet metal base member formed to have a wide but comparatively shallow flat channel extending longitudinally therein, the depth of said channel approximating the thickness of the sheet material of which said member is formed, a removable sheet metal partition adapted to be secured in substantially upright position at selected positions along said base member, the latter having a series of longitudinally spaced, transverse, narrow slots therein, said partition having at least three flanges at its lower edge which extend in the same direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of said partition for a distance substantially greater than the narrow width of said slots, said partition being .removably secured to and constrained in upright position on said base member solely by engagement of said flanges with said base member, said partition being attached to said base member by inserting the free end of a slot-engaging flange into a respectively cooperating slot in said base member and temporarily springing said flange out of its normalplane sufliciently to allow sliding movement of said flange longitudinally of said base member until the heel of, said flange passes over the back edge of and into said slot to removably lock said partition to said base member, said partition flanges being thus disposed on and pressing in opposite directions against the opposite surfaces of said base member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 174,222 Foster Feb. 29, 1876 2,104,913 Streeter Jan. 11, 1938 2,459,561 Yawman Jan. 18, 1949 

